Overcoming Perfectionism and Procrastination

The setting of unrealistic and demanding goals accompanied by a disposition to regard failure to achieve them as unacceptable and a sign of personal worthlessness.

How long will you convince yourself that what you’ve settled for is what you’ve secretly savored for? I recently heard someone say they have been writing a book for over thirteen years. What goal are you putting off due to feelings of inadequacy? How many excuses have you embraced as authentic justifications? Do you feel as if you are unqualified to be a leading voice for your generation?

Consider all that which procrastination and perfectionism are robbing you of:

Time Freedom

Greater Joy

Increased Wealth

Influence

Peace of Mind

Opportunities

Strategic Partnerships

The list is inexhaustible! It’s easy to verbalize all that we find dissatisfying in our lives yet it requires purposeful intention to let go of unproductive thought and behavioral patterns. Every day is filled with brand new opportunities to celebrate internal progress. Do not fall into the trap of perfectionism, it will only stunt your growth and diminish your brilliance. Take time throughout the day to listen to your own heartbeat. Does it beat fast, slow or medium tempo? Release what needs to go and embrace what is welcome to flow. Search for the calm in the midst of chaos, peace in the face of pressure and resolve in the fire of resistance.

In the words of Anatole France, “To accomplish great things we must not only act but also dream; not only plan but also believe.”

We each have a unique opportunity to change our world for the better and influence bright minds ripe with untapped potential. Nora Ephron powerfully stated, “Above all, be the heroine of your life and not the victim.” How will you rise above adversity and uncertainty with victory resting in the palm of your hands? It is time to stop seeking the perfect path to destiny, prosperity, and freedom. The broken road you stand upon can be a wonderful launching pad to catapult you into the unknown. This is the finest hour of your life if you dare to seize every single ounce of potential hidden from the naked eye.

My business peer posted a quote online that pierced me, “Don’t look for inspiration, INSPIRE!” Will you dare to play by the rules you write? Can you envision yourself being the director of your own life story? Are you willing to sacrifice comfort in exchange for conquest? If tomorrow never comes, can you lift your head with pride and say, “I made the most of every second on this day? I dared to SEIZE my dreams, unapologetically!”

If we are honest, it all boils down to one single word EXCUSES! An insightful definition of excuses coined by an unknown author, described them as “tools of incompetence, used to build monuments of nothingness, and those who specialize in them seldom accomplish anything.”

Many people kill the wrong thing! Strive to execute (plan) your expectancies and execute (kill) your excuses. Contrary to popular belief: The easiest thing to do is start and the hardest thing to do is quit. If you have been inactive for an extended period of time, taking even the basic step forward can seem intimidating. We often talk ourselves out of success and into failure due to the misconception that it appears out of reach.

There are three types of self-sabotaging mindsets that you must shift if you desire to excel beyond your current state of existence:

Under-Thinking: A mindset characterized by low terrain acuity in which you underestimate your ability to achieve that which you set out to apprehend.

Over-Thinking: A faulty perception that questions, doubts and overanalyzes what is attainable in spite of past failures and societal labels.

Negative Thinking: A negative and pessimistic view that perceives the world through the lens of defeat rather than a telescope of success.

How long do you intend to sit on the sidelines of life? Where is the excitement in watching and waiting for your own unique opportunity to shine? I know you’ve probably heard this statement replay in your mind over a million times, “I could do that if given the chance.” You possess the capability to create your own destiny.

When you begin to recognize your innate value, the world will automatically stand at attention. It’s beyond time for you to stop seeking permission to walk in the power of your purpose! Grant yourself the green light and go after what you knowingly deserve.

Ralph Waldo Emerson profoundly stated, “Do that which you are afraid to do and the death of fear is certain.” In order to soar boldly into unfathomable heights, it will require a winning mentality and the audacity to defy all odds stacked against you.

How do you shatter the stained glassed windows of perfectionism and courageously embrace a brand new day of change? As simple as this, decide to be and do something dangerously different! Take heed to the wisdom of Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, “What is not started today is never finished tomorrow.” It is vital to understand that ideas without implementation are merely good intentions which rarely inspire individuals to ascend to the pinnacles of prosperity.

Grant yourself the gift of grace and remember, “Progress is perfection.” Celebrate every imperfect step you’ve had the guts to take. The truth is, we never know what we’re capable of until we are challenged. In a purpose defining moment we either rise to the occasion or remain hidden in the corridors of complacency.

You are a rare gift to this world. It’s time to enhance your luminosity and GLOW your own way! Choreographer Martha Graham boldly declared, “Nobody cares if you can’t dance well. Just get up and dance. Great dancers are not great because of their technique.They are great because of their PASSION!” Finally, I challenge you to relentlessly pursue the buried treasure resting inside and accomplish the mission you were placed on earth to do! In the soul-stirring words of Jennifer King Lindley, “Let go of the drive to do everything perfectly and let go of the self-recrimination that comes when you don’t. It’s the quickest way to becoming truly content-and reaching your full potential.”

The greater your self-efficacy (belief) the less likely you are to disbelieve in your ability to achieve. In bone crushing adversity you can awaken grace in the face of gratitude as you dare to turn anguish into apprehension and apprehension into ascension.

On the days where you find your confidence faltering, remember the little engine that could. “A little railroad engine was employed about a station yard for such work as it was built for, pulling a few cars on and off the switches. One morning it was waiting for the next call when a long train of freight-cars asked a LARGE engine in the roundhouse to take it over the hill. “I can’t; that is too much a pull for me”, said the great engine built for hard work. Then the train asked another engine, and another, only to HEAR EXCUSES and be refused. In desperation, the train asked THE LITTLE switch engine to draw it up the grade and down on the other side. “I THINK I CAN”, puffed the little locomotive, and put itself in front of the great heavy train. As it went on the little engine kept bravely puffing faster and faster, “I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.” As it neared the top of the grade, which had so discouraged the larger engines, it went more slowly. However, it still kept saying, “I—think—I—can, I—think—I—can.” It reached the top by drawing on bravery and then went on down the grade, congratulating itself by saying, “I THOUGHT I COULD, I THOUGHT I COULD.”

Kristie Kennedy empowers timid women born to lead with Konfidence Keys to speak their truth boldly and unapologetically. She is the owner of Queenfidence Image Consulting, LLC providing executive leadership training to female professionals. She is skilled in four areas of peak performance: mindset mastery, massive momentum, magnetic messaging and potential maximization. Kristie has a passion for igniting influencers who have reached an internal plateau with limitless possibilities. She is a global keynote speaker, certified impact coach, certified personal trainer and licensed esthetician who delivers world-class advice to persevere through adversity. Her life is a testament that you can shift from mediocrity to magnificence one bold action step at a time.

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5 Reasons Why You Can’t Stop Procrastination (And What To Do About It)

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